Lashawn Williams could be a key player in Chickasaw's passing attack against Flomaton. (Mike Brantley | mbrantley@al.com)

“This is going to be a very special game for a lot of reasons,” Cottrell said. “Obviously, it is our first game. Also, it is very special to me because I coached at Flomaton earlier in my career. That is a very special community.”

Cottrell coached the Hurricanes from 1985 to 1987, building a 29-7 record in the process. In his final two seasons, Flomaton went 23-2. During his three-year stay, he coached current Flomaton head coach Doug Vickery.

The two have remained close in the years since. In fact, Cottrell tried to hire Vickery away from the Hurricanes when he was head coach at Alma Bryant.

“Ronnie is a great football coach,” said Vickery, now in his ninth year as Flomaton’s head coach. “But, even more than that, he is a better man. I never heard him say an ugly word the entire time I played for him. I have the utmost respect for him as a mentor, as a father figure, as someone I can call if I need anything.”

The Cottrell connections to Flomaton don’t stop with Vickery. Cottrell coached the fathers of at least five current Hurricane players, including Vickery’s two sons.

“I think so much of him and of the impact he has had on this community and every community where he has been,” Vickery said. “It will be weird standing on the opposite sideline from him. I am going to try my hardest to beat him, just like I would if we were playing Checkers. But it will be an emotional night I’m sure.”

Flomaton, trying to rebound from last year’s 4-6 season, has a clear edge in experience in this game. The Hurricanes return 17 starters from a year ago – nine on defense and six on offense. Chickasaw obviously returns none. In fact, the Chieftains have only two players – quarterback Chandler Rigdon and wide receiver Keivonte Gallmon – who have played in a varsity game.

“For us to open with an established program like that and we are just getting started … it’s a very difficult task,” Cottrell said. “I am glad we got them at home. With it being our first game, it should really be a great atmosphere.”

Chickasaw’s advantage could be the element of surprise. Since the Chieftains have never played a varsity game and went 0-7 in a limited junior varsity schedule under a different coach last season, the Hurricanes don’t exactly have much information to go on.

“We are apprehensive and concerned about Chickasaw,” Vickery said. “We don’t know a lot about them. Usually, you have some spring film or someone you can talk to for insight, but we just don’t have much. The way we’ve tried to handle it is just to prepare ourselves, which is pretty much what you have to do in the opener anyway. We are going to try to eliminate our mistakes and adjust in the game to what they are trying to do.”

Cottrell said he expects a physical game Friday night that – like many – will be won up front.

“We are not where we need to be yet,” Cottrell said earlier this week about fall practice. “We are still making too many errors. The good thing is every day we work, we get a little better. We are becoming more of a unit. What we are missing is just time together. We are just going to go through some growing pains.”

Ronnie Cottrell leads Chickasaw into its first game Friday night against Flomaton. (Mike Kittrell | mkittrell@al.com)

FLOMATON AT CHICKASAW

The Setup: Class 1A Chickasaw, playing the first varsity football game in school history, hosts an established Class 2A program in Flomaton at Dotson Park. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Chickasaw hired veteran coach Ronnie Cottrell, a former assistant at Florida State and Alabama, this summer to lead the Chieftains into their first year of varsity football. The team went 0-7 playing a limited junior varsity schedule in 2013. Chickasaw has just two players, senior transfers Chandler Rigdon (QB) and Keivonte Gallmon (WR), who have played in a varsity game before. There is talent on the roster, but obviously not much experience. … Cottrell is familiar with both Flomaton and Vickery. He coached the Hurricanes from 1985 to 1987 and, during that time, Vickery played on one of his teams. “It is a special place, a special community,” he said. … Vickery is entering his ninth season as head coach at Flomaton. The Hurricanes have failed to make the playoffs the past two years, going 5-5 in 2012 and 4-6 a year ago. Flomaton returns 15 players (nine on defense, six on offense) from a team that lost three straight games late in the 2013 season by eight points or less. Vickery’s son, Tripp, will quarterback the team. Middle linebacker Trey Weekes is the anchor on defense.

How Flomaton will win: Hurricanes must play smart and use their depth and experience to beat the Chieftains. They likely will face an exceptionally loud crowd on the road with this being Chickasaw’s first varsity football game and first home game. Coaches also will have to make some early-game adjustments since there has been no film of previous Chickasaw games for them to study tendencies or even the basic attack of Cottrell’s offense and defense.

How Chickasaw will win: The Chieftains must stay in the game early with the help of their home crowd. Most of the team has never played in a varsity game. However, if they can keep it close and gain experience along the way, the Chieftains have athletes and could pull it out in the fourth quarter. They also must win the turnover battle. Chickasaw won’t be able to overcome too many turnovers against a much more experienced team.

Keep an eye on Flomaton RB Jamel Grace: The junior rushed for 1,200 yards as a sophomore last season. He could help the Hurricanes control the game on the ground. Sophomore Jamal Brown, who played sporadically as a freshman, also could see some action in the backfield.

Can’t-miss matchup: Chickasaw quarterback Chandler Rigdon vs. Flomaton free safety Andrew Cash and the Hurricanes’ secondary. Since the Chieftains’ only two experienced players are at quarterback and wide receiver, one would expect Chickasaw to throw the ball a good bit. Rigdon has experience and is a senior. He should not be flustered in Chickasaw’s first game. Cash is Flomaton’s quarterback on defense. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior is athletic and will be in charge of getting the Hurricanes’ secondary in the right alignments.